Signal



Jan. 9,1923. I 1,441,525

C. C. PRESGRAVES ET AL.

SIGNAL. FILED MAY 22, 1920. 3 SHEETSSHEET 1 Elmo/whoa C. 6. B'esym VasJan. 9, 1923. 1,441,525

C. C. PRESGRAVES ET AL,

SIGNAL. FILED MAY 22, 1920 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 6. P/vs rdres a W. L Gal-en- Jan. 9, 1923. 1,441,525

4 C. C. PRESGRAVES ET AL.

SIGNAL. FILED MAY 22, 1920. 3 SHEETS'SHEET 3 31+uaatoz5 Presyrares 14 L.Ga Zdefl- Patented Jan. 9, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES i CHARLES C). PRESGRAYES AND WILLIAM L. GOLDEN, OFHAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND.

SIGEAL.

Application filed May 22, 1920. Serial No. 383,525.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. we, CHARLES C. PnEs- GRAVES and WILLIAM L. GOLDEN,citizensfof the United States, residing at Hagerstown, in the "county ofWashington, and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improven ants in signals and hasrelation more partiuilarly to a device of this general character whichis electrically operated, and it is an object of the invention toprovide a novel and improved device of this general character adaptedfor use in connection with a vehicle and which device is under speedcontrol.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improveddevice of this general character which operates to give both a visualand an audible signal, said visual and audible signals beingindependently operable at certain speeds.

An additional object of thednvention is to i provide a novel andimproved device of this general characterwhichoperates upon an excessivespeed to give an alarm and which alarm can only be caused to stopoperation by an apthorized person such as a police officer orthelike,and which alarm also continues to operate eventhough the speed bereduced. v r

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved signalwhereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of ourinvention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

in order that our invention may be the better understood, we will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view-partly in vertical section and partly in elevationillustrating a signal constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofour invention and in applied position, the coacti'ng portion of anautomobile body being diagrammatically indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevationshowing the door of the casing in closed position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in rear elevation and partly insection of the base member coacting with the pointerarbor, lllustratingcertain details of the invention as herein embodied.

Figure l is a vlew in front elevation of the raised portion of the baseillustrating in detail the contacts with which coacts the member-carriedby the pointer arbor.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the ing the lamp, and

F igure 10 is a diagrammatic view of our improved signal.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, C denotes acasing adapted tobe positioned within the cowl of an automobile body or the like with aface thereof comprised in the dash D. I

One end of the casing C is open and is adapted to close by the door A.The door A is maintained closed through the medium of a conventionalkey-operated latch mechanism L. In practice, a key for operating thelatch mechanism L is kept in possession by the police department orother oilicials having supervision over vehicular traffic, so

had by unauthorized persons.

S denotes a speedometer of a conventional \type having its dial 1exposed through the dash D for visual access and wherein the pointer 2coacting with the dial 1 is mounted upon the arbor or shaft. 3. Thearbor or shaft 3 extends within the casing C and adapted to beoperatively connected in a conventional manner with a drive wheel orother desired moving part of the vehicle so that the rate. of speed ofthe vehicle may be readily ascertained by reading the speed-- ometer inthe well known manner.

The speedometer. S includes a base portion havingits outer face providedwith a circular raised portion 5 of a diameter substantially the same asthe diameter of the dial 1 with the periphery of said raised portionconcentric to the arbor or shaft 3 which passes therethrough and alsothrough the base 4c. The dial 1 is secured to the raised portion 5through theinstrumentality ity as to the maximum speed. The rib or Iber. 11 leading across said pocket or @The marginal portion of the rearface of 'post a is in electrical connection with bead 8 is continued byan arcuate contact member 9 terminating. at the 35 indication or otherindic ation of the maximum speed limit in open country. The contactmember 9 is continued by a relatively short rib or bead 10 of insulatingmaterial as is also the rib or bead 8. The rib or bead 10 is continuedby an arcuate contact memtrom the 38 indication or other indicationslightly beyond the maximum speed indication for open country. Thecontact member 11 is continued by the arcuate rib or bead 12 ofinsulating material.

The arbor or shaft 3 is of metal and in electrical contact therewithbetween the raised portion 5 and the dial 1 is an elon; gated contactmember 14: movable therewith and having its end portion engaging theribs or beads 8, 10 and 12 or the contact members 9 and 11, dependentupon the speed of the vehicle as indicated by the pointer 2. The arm orcontact member 14:

is also preferably in parallelism with the pointer 2.

The rear face of the base 1 is provided with a pocket or chamber 15 anddisposed chamber 15 -and sethereof cured as at 16lto the inner wall .isa conductor plate 17 in electrical connection with the arbor or shaft3and which contact is further facilitated by a disk 18 fixed to the.arbor or shaft 3 inwardly of the'contac't plate 17 and constantly incontact. with said plate.

the base 41; is provided with four outstanding binding posts a; b, 0 andd and the the plate 17 through the instrumentality of the conductor a. 1

The high end of the contact member 9 extends through the base4 into thepocket or chamber 15. and'is in electrical connection through theconductor d with the post d.

The high end of the contact member 11 an-ass also extends through thebase 4: intoythe pocket or chamber 15 and said extended portion is inelectrical. connection through the medium of the conductor 6 with thepost I). The portion of the contact member 11 within the recess orchamber 15 is also formed into a contact 19 spaced from the inner faceor base of the pocket or chamber 15. Coacting with the contact 19 is anangular extension 20 of a contact member 21 and which extension ispositioned between said contact 19 and the inner face or base of thepocket or chamber 15. "The contact member 21 extends outwardly throughthe base 4 at a point inwardly of and in substantially radial alinementwith the'contact 11 and the outer end portion of said contact 21 issecured to an arm 22. The opposite end portion'ot the arm 22 is engagedwith the raised portion 5 and in a manner whereby the same may be forcedinwardly by contact of the contact member or arm 14 as the same passesthereover. The member or arm 14: operates to force the contact 21inwardly substantially at the time the contact arm or member passes fromthe contact 11 upon the adjacent end of the rib or bead 12. When thecontact 21 is forced inwardly the extension 20 thereof is brought intoelectrical engagement with the contact 19 and such contact 19 ismaintained until the contact 21 is manually moved outwardly to separatethe extension 20 and contact 19'.

The contact 21 is in electrical connection with the arm and the endportion of said arm 22 secured to the raised portion 5 is in electricalconnection through the medium of the conductor 0 of the binding post 0.7

1E denotes a source of electrical energy which may comprise a series ofdry cells arranged within the casing C or other source of electricalenergy as may best meet with the requirements of practice.

Supported by the outer side face of the casing C and arranged withinsaid casing is a motor M having the axis of its armature verticallydisposed and rotating with said armature is a vertically disposedcylindrical'member 23. The upp'erend ot the member23 is' continued by atubular cylindrical member 24: of transparent material and havingdisposed therearound on a spiral the bands 25 of desired color andtransa pair of upstanding posts 32 and 33 in suit.

able electrical connection with the source E by the conductors f and gcoacting respectively with the posts 32 and 33. The post 32 is inelectrical connection through the conductor it with the post a and withthe post 0 through the conductor 70. Leading from the post 5 is aconductor a in electrical, connectionwith a contact member 34 arrangedon the bottom or floor of the casing C adjacent the open end thereof.

A post 35 or the motor M is in electrical connection through theconductor 0 with the post nection with the brush 31 through theconductor m. The second post 36 of the motor is in electrical connectionthrough thecon- 'ductor o with the post 33 and said post 33 is also inelectrical connection through the conductor p with the brush 3()hcreinbetore referred to. The post 36 is also in electrical connectionthrough the conductor n with a second contact member 3 1 carried by thebottom of the casing C adjacent the open end thereof. a

Secured to the inner face of the door A is an electrically operatedbellB of a conventional type and which-embodies the contact points 37 and 37and which posts engage respectively the contacts 3% and 34: when thedoor is closed. l

W hen the vehicle. isvrunning at a speed below twelve miles, ourimproved signal is inoperative, but when the arm or contact member 14engages the contact 9, the motor circult is closed,'resulting in arotation of the memher and at the same time the circuit "for the lamp orhulo 27 is closed, whereby the rotating member and the rays emitted fromthe lamp or nal that the vehicle is traveling at a speed in excess orthe limit of speed within a municipality orthe like. Upon an increase oispeed oi: the vehicle, the contact member or arm ll will engage thecontact 11, whereby the motor circuitand the lamp circuit will he brokenand the circuit for the bell B closed,-

so that an audible signal will be given so that the driver ofthe'vehicle may know that he is exceeding the speed limit in. the opencoun try or county.

Upon still yond this last limit of speed, say about two miles, thecontact member or arm will end and said post 35 is in electrical con-'bulh 27 give a visual sigfurther increase in speed be-.

age the contact 11 and atcthe same time oirce the contact 21 inwardly tohause the extension 20 thereof to have electrical con nection with thecontact 19. The bell circuit is closed and cannot be reopened untilafter access has been had within the casing C to manually separate theextension 20 from the contact 19.

The key for the locking mechanism L is not in the possession of thedriver of the vehicle but is adapted to be in the possession of thepolice oiiicials or other partieshaving control of trailic, so that inthe event the vehicle should travel beyond the extreme limit of speed asprovided by the regulations, the same will be readily made known to theproper ofiicials by the ringing of the bell B even though the speed ofthe car be reduced because the bell circuit is closed and can only bereopened-fromwithin the casing C. In view of this fact, the continuedringing of the bell B clearly indicates that the driver of the car hasbroken the trafiic' laws or regulations and. is, therefore, subject toarrest.

Tn ord er to effect the requisite separation of the extension 20 of thecontact 21 and the contact 19, we find it of advantage to arrange withinthe casing C an elongated member or I rod 39 supported for endwisemovement and having one end terminating in close proximity to the innerend of the contact 21 or the extension 20 thereof. Coacting with the rod39 is an expansible member or spring 40 which serves to constantly urgethe rod 39 in a direction away from the contact 21 or the extension 20thereof. Upon opening the door A, it is only necessary to move the rod39 in a direction toward the hase 4 and which movement results in therod 39 forcing the contact member 21 outwardly and disengagingtheextension 20 thereof from the contact 19.

The member 23 extends exteriorly of the casing C through an opening erin the top thereof and the member 24; is housed within a cylindricalcasing 42 of glass or other transparent material. The top of the casingi2is closed by a cap 413 or the like preferably of opaque material andtheinner face of said cap is provided with a reflecting medium atpreferably a mirror so that the eiiiciency of the lamp or hulb 27 andparticularly after nightfall is materially increased.

The casing 42 is carried byand extends above a block 45. The block 45 issuitably secured to the top wall of the casing C and in a manner wherebysaid block 45, together with the casing 12, closes or seals the opening41. I

v The casing 12 extends upwardly above the lower, portion of thewindshield of an automobile or the like and interposed between saidcasing and the windshield is a plate 46 extending upwardly from theblock 45, said plate terminating above the casing 42 and of a widthgreater than the width of said casing. The plate 46 is provided with are stricted sight opening at? whereby the driver or other occupant ofthecar may have visual access to the rotating member 2a and astacilitated by the burning lamp or-bulb 27.

Our improved signal also provides means, and particularly through theinstrumentality of the bell B, to notify the passengers within the rearportion of the vehicle that the speed limit is being exceeded and thisis of especial importance in connection with private cars driven by achaufieur.

It is also manifest that the device can be used to considerableadvantage in delivering cars from the factory to the purchaser or to thelocal agent in a distant city. By the use of this device themanufacturer can keep tab on the road record. of the driver of the carfrom the factory to the city where the car is to be sold and the dealeror purchaser when he receives the car at his end of the line canimmediately determine whether at any time along the route the driver ofthe car has exceeded the maximum-predetermined speed limit for which thedevice is set at the tactory. lln this way, the driver of the car will'be prevented from speeding the car and from entailing the damage andwear that result from excessive speeding.

From the foregoing description it is thought/to be obvious that a signalcon structed in accordance with our invention is of a speedometer, anelectrically operated visual signal including a normally open circuit,an electrically operated audible signal including two operating circuitseach normally open, one of said last named circuits including a circuitcloser movable by pressure into either open or closed position, and amember movable with the pointer arbor, said member in one positionclosing the circuit for the visual signal, closing one of the circuitsof the audible signal when in a second position, and closing thepressure-operated circuit closer when in a third position.

2. The combination with the pointer arbor of a speedometer, anelectrically operated visual signal including a normally open circuit,an electrically operated audible signal including two operating circuitseach normally open, one ot said last named circuits including a circuitcloser movable by pressure into either open or closed position, a membermovable with the pointer arbor, said member in one position closing thecircuit for the visual signal, closing one of the circuits of theaudible signal when in a second position, and closing the pressure-openated circuit closer when in a third position, and means operableindependently of said member-tor opening the pressure-operated circuitcloser.

3. The combination with the pointer arbor ot a speedometer, anelectrically operated visual signal including a normally open circuit,an electrically operated audible signal including two operating circuitseach normally open, one of said last named circuits including a circuitcloser movable by pressure into either open or closed position, a

member movable with the pointer arbor, said member in one positionclosing the 011'- "cuit for the visual signal, closing one of thecircuits of the audible signal when in a second position, and closingthe pressure-operated circuit closer when in a third position, meansoperable independently of said member for opening the pressure-operatedcircuit closer, and means for preventing access to said last namedmeans.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

a GHARLES C. PRESGrlR-AVES. WlllLLllAM LGQLDEN.

